Satellite images show that Russia appears to be packing up some military equipment in Syria, a possible prelude to its withdrawal from the country. Travis Timmerman, an American who was found earlier this week, was handed over to U.S. forces.The New York Times reports that on Dec. 13, 2024, at 3:07 p.m. ET, jubilant crowds gathered in cities across Syria for the first Friday Prayers since rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad. The historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was filled with civilians and fighters worshiping side by side, and joyful chants erupted over the collapse of the long authoritarian dynasty.
The atmosphere was celebratory as people waved revolutionary flags, took photos with friends, and chanted “God is great!” This was one of the largest crowds in memory, filling the marble courtyard of the mosque where al-Assad’s security forces had previously suppressed antigovernment demonstrations with brutal violence. The chants were not all religious, reflecting the country’s newfound sense of liberty. In Damascus and Idlib, a city long held by rebels, people sang, “Raise your head high, you are a free Syrian!”
Despite the festive mood in the capital, the new leaders of Syria face monumental challenges as they try to bring order to a country torn apart by sectarian divisions, the legacy of the Assad era, and the competing interests of various armed groups. Human rights groups estimate that the 13-year civil war, which ended with the ousting of al-Assad, claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
In another development, an American citizen, Travis Timmerman, who was found outside Damascus earlier this week, was handed over to U.S. forces by Syrian opposition representatives. Mr. Timmerman, who had been imprisoned during al-Assad’s rule, is now in Jordan, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Before Friday Prayer at the Umayyad Mosque, the prime minister of the temporary rebel administration, Mohammed al-Bashir, delivered a sermon from the pulpit. He praised the rebel victories, mourned those who lost their lives in the war, and called on Syrians to build a new state based on freedom, dignity, and justice.
Ahmed al-Shara, the head of the Islamist group that led the ouster of al-Assad, posted a video statement on Telegram, urging Syrians to “head out into the city squares to express their joy” at the end of the Assad family’s half-century rule. He also emphasized the importance of rebuilding the country.
In other developments, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Ankara on Friday. Both officials discussed the future of post-al-Assad Syria, with a key priority being to prevent Islamic State militants from regaining influence in the country.
Rebel fighters in Syria also made a significant drug seizure, finding vast stockpiles of an illegal amphetamine called captagon in a Damascus warehouse. The drug was a major source of income for a narcotics-trafficking ring worth billions of dollars a year, run by relatives of al-Assad.
Source:Read More